"Heeheehee… they're so naïve."
Takatsuki Sen's soft, playful laughter echoed from the edge of the rooftop.
She had personally fought Fushimi Kyo, so she understood just how terrifying he was.
Back then, even after being struck head-on by her kagune tail
an attack from an SSS-rank One-Eyed Owl
the only thing Fushimi Kyo lost was a single piece of clothing.
Not a scratch.
And that strike of hers?
Even a casual blow was comparable to a Special Class investigator going all out.
Yet now these people thought some half-baked shockwave attack could seriously injure him?
Pure wishful thinking.
Under the tense gazes of Shinohara, Kuroiwa, and Tanakamaru, the smoke slowly dissipated.
A figure emerged.
It was Fushimi Kyo.
He casually waved his hand, dispersing the dust in front of him, and frowned in annoyance.
"Hey, mustache guy
you tore my clothes."
The moment they saw him clearly, every face drained of color.
"This… this is impossible!"
"Is he some kind of monster? Not a single injury!"
"Tanakamaru-san's full-power strike only tore his clothes?!"
"Fighting something like this… it's hopeless."
"What is he?"
"Human? No way."
"Ghoul? But he doesn't even have a kagune."
"Only the White Reaper of the CCG could possibly deal with him…"
Fear spread uncontrollably through the ranks.
If the enemy were human, they could still force themselves to fight.
But this gap
This was the difference between mortals and gods.
"Director Wasu what do we do?"
Shinohara Yukinori urgently contacted Wasu Yoshitoki.
They were stuck.
They couldn't win, yet retreating now would be unbearably humiliating.
Inside the command room, Wasu Yoshitoki's expression was darker than ever.
"I never imagined he'd be this terrifying…
Even compared to the One-Eyed Owl, he's no less dangerous."
"Director, we should withdraw," Marude Itou urged seriously.
"If this continues, the casualties will be catastrophic. These investigators are the backbone of the CCG."
In his view, this extermination operation had already failed.
They could always try again with better preparation.
"No."
Wasu Yoshitoki rejected him instantly.
"Director !" Marude's face turned livid. He couldn't understand why Wasu was so stubborn.
"Have them hold the Ghoul Hunter," Wasu said calmly.
"Arima is already on his way."
"We thought Plan A would be enough.
Looks like only Special Class Arima can handle this."
"Arima? Wasn't he exploring the 24th Ward?" Marude exclaimed.
"He returned last night," Wasu replied.
"The 24th Ward is extremely dangerous. Only Arima could reach the deepest levels. He gained… quite a lot."
Marude fell silent.
If Kishou Arima was coming, then there was nothing to worry about.
That alone showed how absolute Arima's standing was within the CCG.
Even after witnessing Fushimi Kyo's overwhelming strength,
their faith in Arima remained unshaken.
"Shinohara, Tanakamaru, Kuroiwa, Hachikawa,"
Wasu's voice rang through their earpieces.
"Hold the Ghoul Hunter. Arima will arrive shortly."
"You heard that? Arima-san is coming!"
"With Arima-san personally intervening, the Ghoul Hunter is finished!"
"He cut off two of the Owl's arms at nineteen how terrifying must he be now?"
"The White Reaper is finally moving!"
"He'll tear that monster apart for killing so many of our comrades!"
Fushimi Kyo raised an eyebrow as he listened to the excited chatter.
"Kishou Arima…"
"A real nuisance."
"In the original story, he was even stronger than Eto at her peak."
"If I fight him now, I only have about a sixty percent chance of winning."
"And with these pests interfering… I might actually end up at a disadvantage."
His mind raced.
Then
"Enough."
"Time to end this quickly."
He inhaled deeply and looked at the investigators before him.
"After that brief exchange, I've more or less figured out your abilities."
"So now
let's finish this properly."
"Hahahaha
kill!"
BOOM!
The ground exploded beneath his feet.
Fushimi Kyo vanished and reappeared above the seven of them.
"Flying Heaven Sword Style
Netherworld Nine-Headed Heaven-Splitting Slash!"
He descended from the sky, both hands gripping Bloodsong.
His muscles bulged, veins standing out as a faint white glow spread across his body
a thin membrane formed over his skin.
This was the ability gained from his fourth body enhancement.
When he went all out, his blood energy created a defensive film
tougher than close-range heavy armor.
A shrill scream tore through the air.
Nine blinding blade arcs merged into one, crashing down toward the investigators below.
This strike was pure annihilation
One slash meant silence.
The pressure alone crushed down on everyone's hearts.
Shinohara, Kuroiwa, Tanakamaru, and Hachikawa all felt the unmistakable scent of death.
"Block it!" Kuroiwa roared.
He swung his blade with everything he had.
"Full power!" Shinohara shouted, striking at the same time.
Hachikawa's spiral quinque morphed instantly into a compact shield above his head.
"Yo, boy
Second-Stage Output!"
Tanakamaru's Angel's Wing shifted forms, the long barrel glowing blue as it slammed upward.
The others unleashed their strongest attacks without hesitation.
"Heh… scared?"
Fushimi Kyo smirked.
Then
Bloodsong collided with them.
There was no thunderous explosion.
No violent shockwave.
Just
Hiss.
A sound so faint it was almost gentle.
Shinohara's and Kuroiwa's blades snapped simultaneously.
Bloodsong continued forward, smashing into Hachikawa's shield.
Crack crack crack!
The shield shattered.
The blade grazed Hachikawa's ear and arm.
"AAAH!"
An ear and an arm flew into the air.
At the same moment, Houji Akira, Hirako Take, and Amon Koutarou struck together.
Fushimi Kyo didn't retreat.
He answered with his fists.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three massive impacts.
Their weapons were blown apart.
"Let's see if you survive this time."
His voice whispered into Hachikawa's ear like a demon's curse.
Fushimi Kyo's left hand pierced straight through Hachikawa's chest
emerging from his back.
Hachikawa stiffened, staring at the arm impaling him.
"You damn rat…
what a way to die…"
"Black Doberman…
our score isn't settled yet…"
His body collapsed backward.
As his mask fell away, his face was revealed
mangled, flesh torn away around his teeth.
It was damage left by Irimi Kaya Black Doberman long ago.
"Hachikawa-san!"
Houji Akira screamed, lunging forward.
Fushimi Kyo's expression was icy.
He punched.
CRACK!
Her S-rank quinque shattered piece by piece.
A sweeping kick followed.
BANG!
Houji Akira's body folded unnaturally and slammed into the concrete
lifeless.
"Hachikawa… Houji Akira…"
Shinohara and Kuroiwa's eyes were bloodshot.
Two elite investigators gone in an instant.
"Kuroiwa no more hesitation," Shinohara shouted hoarsely.
"Activate 'New'. Even if it devours us!"
'New'
an SS-rank Kakuja-type quinque, forming full-body black armor.
Incredible power. Incredible defense.
But dangerously unstable.
"Do it."
They activated it together.
Purple-black lightning wrapped around their bodies.
Black armor grew from within, covering them completely.
Tentacle-like structures stabbed into their flesh, greedily siphoning energy.
They locked eyes
Then vanished.
They reappeared beside Fushimi Kyo, broken blades sweeping for his neck and waist.
"Fast."
Fushimi Kyo looked mildly surprised.
But only mildly.
He stomped, dodging instantly.
"Flying Heaven Sword Style
Netherworld Soaring Dragon Flash!"
Blade intent engulfed them.
Their weapons shattered again.
Bloodsong cleaved into Shinohara's armor
Tear!
Blood sprayed.
"Shinohara!" Kuroiwa shouted.
"Worry about yourself."
Fushimi Kyo struck.
Blow after blow shattered Kuroiwa's armor.
COUGH !
Kuroiwa vomited blood mixed with organ fragments.
"Join Hachikawa."
Fushimi Kyo raised his blade.
"Kuroiwa-san!"
Tanakamaru, Amon, and Hirako cried out helplessly.
Then
A golden bolt of lightning tore through the battlefield.
Fushimi Kyo leapt back, eyes narrowing.
"…So you've arrived."
A man walked forward calmly
White shirt.
Glasses.
Flowing white hair.
The embodiment of death itself.
"The White Reaper
Kishou Arima."
At last.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
🔥 WE'RE BACK! 🔥
Sorry for the long wait, everyone. The hiatus is over, and this story is back in action!
And there's more: I've also started a new Tokyo Ghoul story, Chainsaw Man in Tokyo Ghoul: The Doves Think I'm a Kakuja. Someone plays Chainsaw Man so well that the CCG takes him seriously. Check it out on my profile and add it to your library!